19 eggs with not so good news...

[Valb]

Hi All,

I haven't posted much on this site, been so focused on the process. I just had my eggs retrieved Monday morning. Woke up happy to discover that 19 eggs were plucked. I had high hopes until my doctor just called to tell me that 12 were immature and only 3 were mature. 2 fertlized wrongly, and the 3 mature ones haven't fertilized at all yet. Does this happen often? He said my estrogen levels were at 4,000 right before retrieval and everything looked perfect. They are maturing the 12 in the lab and he said there's a 50/50 chance of getting good embryos from some of those. Has anyone else had this experience who can share some knowledge? I feel so confused...

Thank you. And thank you for being here...

xo

Val

[Sand]

Hi Val ... Sorry you've had this bad news. I can imagine just how you're feeling. I don't know whether this happens often, but it does happen. The thing is, if you were to do another cycle the outcome could be totally different. No two cycles are the same. My advice over the next day or so would be to focus you energy on the drs maturing your eggs. As we've seen so many times on these boards, you really only do need the one good egg. With 12 in the lab, you've a good chance of more. Lots of PMA Val. Let us know what happens. Good luck !

Sandra x

[DebraP]

Hi Val, I picked up that you said the 3 mature eggs haven't fertilised 'yet', it's not uncommon for some to take a little longer. My last cycle (I'm 41 too), we were told how many had fertilised but by ET, 2 more had done so, just a little later than the rest, one of which was top grade.

A 50% chance of getting some more is pretty good. This sounds like IVM which is being trialled at my local hospital clinic with great results. I think you said this is your first tmt cycle? As Sandra said, each cycle is slightly different. I never get more than 10 follicles but they usually have a mature egg each. It really does differ from person to person, cycle to cycle.

Good luck and I hope you get good news from the clinic v.soon.

Debra.

[pixiesmom]

Val,
It sounds like you have a similar problam to me. It sounds like an egg problem. On my ivf in March I had 12 eggs, 8 mature, 5 fertilized, 3 embies at day 3 & by day 5 there weren't any left. On this cycle I had 13 eggs, 10 mature, 10 fertilized with icsi, 7 perfect embies on day 3. On day 6 I had 2 that weren't very good. I test on Sat. I think my best bet is to do donor egg & sperm next time if this one doesn't work. It increases pg rates about 20% higher. Even though it's hard try not to get discouraged & stay open to options. PMA

Pixiesmom

[Valb]

Thank you all for your kind words and encouragement.

Pixiesmom: I may very well have the same problem that you have. I found out today that the three mature eggs that we did ICSI on had too many nuclei. The 12 immatures didn't fertilize right either. None of them got even close to being embryos, though. My doc says that it may be that my folicles need to grow to 22's and 24's in order to get mature eggs from them. (Supersize me). I'm going to try again in September. We're going to start me on lower doses and keep the eggs in a day or so longer next time. Doc was surprised and says he has one case a year like this...lucky moi!

Thanks again for sharing your experience with me. It really helps to hear other stories...

xoxo

Val

[pixiesmom]

Wow! Those are going to be some big follies! They've had to wiat an extra day on me both times. It's unfortunate that we don't feel too old to be mommies, but some of our eggs do. That's why it takes more to get us to respond to meds. It's good that your Dr. is changing protocol. I've heard that if you have a bad cycle that is the 1st thing that should be done or change clinics. I'll find out Sat if this ivf worked. If not I will be close to you in Aug.

keep your head up, it will work out

Pixiesmom

[Valb]

Definitely very big follies. I was kinda hoping it was a doc's mistake (plucking too soon) than my old eggs, but I guess I have to admit I'm not a spring chicken laying farm fresh eggs anymore. We'll see in September. I'll be checking on you this weekend and sending you tons of fuzzy, warm, positive, golden-eggy energy for Saturday.xo

Val